Motor control system



March 9; 1937. L. A. TROFIMOV MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March 17, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 9,1937. a. A. TRoFmov 9 MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March 17, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuemtoz Patented Mar. 9, 1937 1 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs MOTOR con'rnon SYSTEM Lev A. Trofimov, Cleveland Heights, Ghio, ae== signor to The Electric Controller & Manateeturing @ompany, Glevoland, Qhio, (ta-corpora tion of Ohio Application March 17, 1934, Serial No, 816,198

GClaimse (or. 172-288) s invention relates to a control system is to provide a system of motor control having all adapted for use with electric motors and is a conof the advantages of a definite me la Y tinuation in part of my copending application. tem and the current limit systems, and which Serial No. 271,164, filed April 19, 1928, maturing has none of the inherent disadvantage of either 5 as Patent No. 1,980,736. The invention relates ystem. v I l 5 particularly to an improved system for automati- Another object of the invention is to provide cally cutting out the starting resistance in a a system of motor control wherein the time demotor circuit during acceleration of the motor. lay dev e ay be a j d t Provide a u table It further r vid 'f r introducing tim delay acceleration of the motor under normal working between the energization of the successive resistconditions which, Without Change j ance cutting out switches, the time delay being merit, Will P pe y a celera e the motor under responsive to the value of the current taken by difierent or cha Conditions d u de the motor during acceleration; normal Working d t s- Various means have heretofore been provided further Object of the Present invention iS t for automatically cutting out the starting relJrOVide ans adjusting t time ay D 15 sistance in a motor circuit so that the current ds t suit any particular motor plication. taken by th motor n t oxooed certain pre- I Another object of the present invention is to determined values. One such system employs a Provide a motor n r System incorporating definite time delay between the closing of each time l y devices in which the time delay interof th t h t t has t disadvantage val is constant only for a given value of the curth t if vt t delay periods are adju ted for a rent in the circuit to be controlled, and in which given load, the periods are too long for lighter the time d y interval a s n po to valoads and t short for heavier 1 riations in the value of the current in the circuit th h system employs current limit to be controlled, the time delay interval being control in the motor circuit. As is well known a f t u ent Value is great and being motor when running generates a voltage which smaller when the current va u is sis opposite to that supplied to the motor and A further object of the present invention is. to which reduces the strength of the current sup- Provide a motor contrcfl Systemv mcol'pol'ating plied to the motor, the strength f the voltage timedelavdevices in which the time delay inter- 3o generated by the motor increasing as the motor Val 15 Vanable I P to Y f in the speed increases so that the current in the circuit Value of the f 1n the cu'cmt 4' decreases as the motor accelerates. In the cur- P but Whlch F not i P on a rent limit control system the relays are operated anon in the current the clrcmt to be controlled in response to variations in the current in the in order to be operatlvemotor circuit, being arranged to cut out the re- Afurthel: object of the present invention is to 35 sistance when the current drops to a predeterprovide an 1mproved mPtor control Systemmined value. This system has the disadvantage other obJectS of the lnvention' and features of of not being able to start the motor when the Y j will be apparent P the following motor is subjected to overloads in starting, such scnptlon taken in connectlon with the as are frequently encountered as a result of an g fig gg g View of form 40 increase in the friction load in the machine drivof i 2 d 3 which I may employ in the ,sg g i g gg gghggs to changes m room tempera" system provided by my invention, the cover being In such a case the first switch to close admits broken l and.shown;in section; 4.3 the normal amount of current to the motor Fig. 2 1s a sectional view taken along the line l 22 of Fig. 1, with parts shown in elevation; whmh is msumcient to startthe because Fig. 3 is asectional view of another embodiof the abnormal load on the motor, and as no counter E. M. F. is generated by the motor, the 31:32:23; gggi ggzfi ggg i fig gg g g f current in the circuit does not decrease to allow Fig 4 is a diagrammatic View of an electric 50 the first resistance cutting out sw1tch to close motor ystem embodying th control system and the motor remains connected to the line, curvided by my inven on; rent flowing through the motor and starting re- Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of another elecsistance which may overheat either or both. trio motor system embodying the control system 5 An important object oi the present invention provided by my invention; and

dis a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of an'electric motor system employing ployed in the motor control system provided by 4 this invention, and as therein illustrated, I designates a casing of magnetic material having its back side open and mounted on the base or slate I The vertical magnetic core B has a threaded stem l2 screwed into the bottom of the casing, a'jam-nut l3 being turned up on the stem and against the bottom face of the casing. The lower member or part l4 of the core B is of larger diameter than the core member or part |5 above it. The annular shoulder at the junction of the core members I4 and I5 is marked IS.

A non-magnetic member in the'form of a cylindrical sleeve, as shown, surrounds the lower portion of the core member I5, and extends up. through the top of the casing In. A magnetic ring or bushing l8 surrounds the cylinder l1 and is screwed into an opening in the top of the casing II), there being an air gap l8 between the bushing |8 and the core member l5. A winding I9 is seated within the casing l0 and surrounds the core member l4 and that part of the cylinder I! which is below the top of the casing. The cylinder H carries a disk contact or switch member 20 adapted, when the cylinder is in its lower position, to bridge a pair of relatively fixed contacts 2| of conventional resilient type.

A magnetic cover 24 is seated on the top of easing l0 and against the slate H and has a magnetic plug 25 screwed into its top in axial alignment with the core member l5 which extends up into the cover 24, leaving an air gap 26 of desired length between the plug 25 and the core member l5.

The apparatus described may be considered as a current transformer with a movable secondary comprising the cylinder H as a single turn winding. The primary or the transformer is the winding 9.

"When current is established in the operating coil IS, the growing direct current induces a secondary current in the cylinder Repulsion between the cylinder l1 and the winding I9 causes the cylinder to move upwardly and open the contacts 20 and 2|. When the current ceases to grow in the operating winding l9, there is no secondary current in the cylinder l1, and the cylinder begins to fall down through flux suitably provided across the gap I8.

The flux in the air gap l8 varies in strength in accordance with the strength of the current in the winding i9, being greatest when the current in the winding is of great strength and being weaker when the current in the winding is of a small value. The rate of the return of the movable member I1 is governed by the strength .of the flux in the air gap l8, being slow when the flux strength is great and being rapid when the flux strength is small. It is clear therefore that the rate of the return of the movable member l1 and hence the length of time required to close the contacts controlled by the movable member are modified by variations in the strength of the current in the winding I9.

70 Motion of the cylinder H in the magnetic field causes electric currents to be generated in the cylinder, opposing the force of gravity tending to move the member downwardly thereby retarding its downward movement, by which a time 9 delay interval is obtained. At the end of the downward stroke of the cylinder I1, the contacts 20 and 2| are closed.

It has been found that the retarding forces due to induction of current in the member act on T I both major movements of this member. restraining forces act on the member IT as it rises and prevents the member H from jumping too high or with so much force that the member impingeson the magnetic plug 25. The restraining force on the member I1 is easily demonstrable by increasing the air gap at I8, it being found that when this air gap is made larger the member I? jumps much higher.- A further result of increasing the size of the air gap at I8 is to decrease the delay period of the member H in returning to the position which closes the contacts 2|. I v

The magnetic-"circuit of the relay has two parallel paths: One through the core B, the casing Hi, the bushing l8, and the air gap H3. The second path is through the core B, the'casing ID, the cover 24, adjusting plug 25 and the air gap 26 between the core B and the" adjusting plug 25. In both cases thecore member B acts to increase the flux set up by current in the winding 9.

At the initial energization. of the operating coil I9, the cylinder l1 quickly rises, since the retarding magnetic flux through the air gap l8, has not had time to establish itself to full strength. When the cylinder begins to descend, the flux in the air gap l8 through the bushing 8 is of maximum strength due to the motor current passing during acceleration through the operating winding I9, so that the speed of the downward movement of the cylinder is much slower than its speed of the upward movement. Actual tests have demonstrated that the upward speed of the cylinder I7 is several hundred times its downward speed. The adjusting plug 25 is provided to vary the air gap 26 between the plug 25 and the core B, by means of which more or less flux is shunted away from the air gap l8, thereby changing the strength of the magnetic field in the gap l8. By these means the time of the downward motion of the tube IT can be adjusted at will.

The construction and operation of the'time delay device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is fully described and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 271,164, filed April 19, 1928, maturing as Patent No. 1,980,736, of which this application is a continuation in part.

It will be understood that the time delay device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 operates to close the contacts 2| after a time interval, the length of time interval being variable responsive to changes in the current in the winding I9.

I have shown in Fig. 3 another form of time delay switch which I may employ in the motor control system provided by this invention. As therein illustrated, there is a housing 30 constructed of suitable magnetic material and having an aperture in the housing in which is fitted a bushing 33, leaving an air gap 34 between the A winding 35 is positioned upper end of which acts as a stop for the tube.

36 when the latter is in lowered position. A disk 31 of any suitable magnetic material such as soft iron is secured within the member 36 and rests on a spring 38 which is positioned in an aperture in the core 3| and is adjustably supported by a bolt 38 threaded into, the core 3|. A second disk 39 is secured within the member 36, while a contact bar 46 carrying contacts 4| and 42 rests on the top of the member 36. A retaining pin 43 extends through an aperture in the-disk 39 and through the contact bar 40. and has a compression spring 44 mounted thereon, the

spring being held in position by means of a washer 85 and a cotter pin or other suitable means. It will be understood that the spring 44 serves to hold the contact carrying bar 40 against the top of the tube 36. The adjusting bolt 38' and the spring 38 are adjusted so that when the winding 35 is de-energized, the contacts 4| and 42 are held slightly out of engagement with the fixed contacts 4'! and 48. as shown in Fig. 3. When the winding 35 is energized, the tube 36 moves upwardly very quickly and on continued energization of the winding it moves downwardly through the flux in the air gap 34, the rate of movement varying with the strength of the flux in the air gap 34, which is governed by the strength of the current in the winding 35. When the member 36 has moved downwardly so that the disk 3'! approaches the end of the core 3|, the attraction 40 between the core and the disk increases and the tube 36 is pulled downwardly so that the contacts 4| and 42 are brought into engagement with-the contacts 41 and 48, the spring 38 being compressed. 1

5 When current is initiated in the winding 35, the rate of change of the current in the winding and hence the rate of change of flux in the core 3| is maximum. The induced current in the tube 36 will be maximum at this instant and the force 50 for moving the tube from its biased position also will be maximum at this instant. The attraction between the magnetic dislc 31 and the upper end of the core 3|, on the other hand, increases as the current in the winding 35 and the flux in the 55 core increases, and will be at the minimum when the current is initiated in the winding. The magnetic attraction between the disk 3'! and the core 3|, therefore, is minimum when the inductive force tending to move the tube 36 is at maximum.

60 Initiation of current in the winding 35 causes the tube 36 to rise very quickly and a continued flow of current in the winding effects a slow movement of the tube downwardly due to the force of gravity acting against the restraining force of 5 the induced currents in the tube created by its downward movement through the magnetic flux in the air gap 34. When the tube 36 descends to its normal position the rnagnetic attraction between the disk 31 and the core 3| is relatively 70 great as the core is now fully magnetized and the disk is pulled toward the end of the core so that the spring 38 is compressed'and the contacts 4| and 42 are held in engagement with the contacts 41 and 48 as long as current continues to 75 flow in the winding 35.

It will be seen that the time delay device shown in Fig. 3, like that shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

provides means to control the closing of a pair of contacts after a time delay interval, the length of the time delay interval varying with the strength of the current supplied to the device. The time delay device shown in Fig. 3 differs from the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, however, in that in the device shown in Fig. 3 the contacts controlled .by the device are normally open while in the embodying the control system provided by my invention. In the system therein illustrated I employ the time delay device shown in Figures 1 and 2, indicated in Figure 4 by the reference character C. The source of current is indicated by wires 5| and 52v and when the switch 53 is closed the current flows from the wire 5| through the winding 3 of the time delay device indicated at C and thence through the resistor R, the armature A, and series field winding 54, to the wire 52. The current also flows from the switch 53,

through the shunt field 55 to the wire 52. Upon initiation of current inthe. windin If) the tube l! andthe contact carrying member 20 move upwardly very rapidly thereby breaking the circuit between the contacts 2 i-2 Subsequently the member I! moves downwardly and the member 20 engages the contacts 2| to establish a circuit therebetween and to short circuit the resistor R by means of the wire 56. The current flowing in the circuit through the winding l9 will decrease as soon as the armature A starts to rotate because of the counter E. M. F. generated by the motor. The extent of the reduction of the current in the winding 9 will depend on the rate of acceleration of the armature A, the reduction being greater the more rapidly the armature accelerates. The time required for the member 20 to return to its initial position and close the circuit between the contacts 2|-2l depends on the current flowing in the winding 89, being longer the greater the current.

It will be understood that if the motor accelerates rapidly, there will be a large decrease in the current in the winding |9 and the tube.

ll will descend rapidly and the circuit between the contacts 2| will be closed quickly so that the resistor R will be short circuitecl after a small time delay interval, and additional current will be supplied to the motor. If, on the other hand. the motor accelerates slowly the time interval which will elapse before the circuit between the contacts 2|2| is completed, and the resistor R a short circuited, will be greater.

It will also be seen that if the motor fails to start when the switch 53 is closed, the tube I"! and the member 26 will descend, the rate of movement being slow because of the heavy current flowing through the winding l9, and will complete the circuit so as to short circuit the resistor R and supply additional current to the motor. The additional current will either cause the motor to start or it will cause the overload switches or other safety devices (not shown) to operate and take the motor ofi the line.

It will be seen that when the switch 58 is closed, current tends to flow through th contacts 20 and 2| of the time delay device, these the contacts 20 and 2| are opened before the current flowing therebetween has had time to rise to its maximum value and the contacts therefore are opened with very little arcing.

5 From the foregoing it is clear that the control system provided by my invention is responsive to the value of the current taken by the motor during acceleration, and that if the motor accelerates rapidly the time interval required to cut out a section of resistance is less than the time interval required when the motor accelerates slowly. It will also be seen that the motor control system provided by my invention automatically adjusts itself to varying conditions.

5 If the starting load on the motor varies, the rate of acceleration of the motor and the amount of current required by it in starting also vary and the. time delay devices employed in this systemare responsive to the amount of the current taken by the motor. r

In addition it will be seen that in the motor control system provided by my invention that while the time delay devices are responsive to variations in the current taken by the motor during acceleration, they are not dependent entirely upon variations in the current in order to operate, and that they will close the circuit to short circuit the resistor and supply more current to the motor after a time interval even though the v motor fails to start and there is little or no variation in the current taken by the motor.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a diagrammatic view of a difierent embodiment of the electric motor control system provided by my invention. In the system therein illustrated, a plurality of the type of time delay devices shown in Fig. 3 are employed, these being indicated by the characters D, DI, D2. The system therein illustrated also employs a plurality of resistor sections.

Referring to the drawings the source of ourrent is indicated at 6| and- 62, and when the starting button 63 is pressed, the current flows through the winding 64 of the main contactor 65. causing the contacts 66 and 61 to engage the contacts 68 and 69, the main contactor being held in the closed position by its own control circuit contacts I0 and II. When the main contactor 65 is clcsed, current fiows from the wire 6| through the main contactor and through wire 12, and thence through the shunt field 13 to the other wire 62. Current also fiows from the main contactor 65 through the wire 12 to the winding 35 of the first time delay device D and thence through the resistor sections RI, R2 and R3 to the armature A and the series field I4 to the Upon the initiation of our other conductor 62. I rent in the winding 35 of the time delay device D, the movable member of this time delay device quickly moves upwardly and then slowly descends, carrying the contact bar 40 with it and when it has completed'its downward motion the contact bar 40 engages the fixed contacts 41 and 48, thereby completing the circuit through the winding 35 of the second time delay device DI and short circuiting the resistor section RI.

Upon the initiation of current in the winding 35 of the time delay device DI the movable element of this device moves upwardly and returns so that the contact bar 40 engages the contacts 41 and 48 to complete the circuit through the winding 35 of the third time delay device and to short circuit the resistor section R2. The time delay device D2 operates in the same manner as the time delay devices D and DI and establishes a circuit between the contacts 41 and 48,

which energizes the winding I5 of the contactor 16, causing this contactor to close the contacts 17 and I8, thereby short circuiting the last resistance section R3 and cutting out the windings of the time delay devices D, DI and D2, and the contacts of the latter are returned to their normal positions by their respective compression springs 38 and they are ready for the next operation of starting the motor. The contactor I6 is held closed through its own control 10 circuit contacts and 8 I, and the control circuit contacts 61 and 69 of the main contactor 65.

The motor is stopped by pushing the stop push button 82 which de-energizes the winding 64 of the main contactor 65, which in turn de-energizes 15 the winding I5 of the contactor I6, which cuts the motor off the line.

It will be understood that each of the time delay devices D, DI and D2 are responsive to variations in the current in the circuit of-the 20 motor. The'time required by each to close the contacts controlled thereby and cut out a resistor section is variable, the time interval being longer the slower the rate of acceleration of themotor and therefore the greater the current taken by 25 the motor, and being shorter'if the motor accelerates rapidly, so that there is a large decrease in the current to the motor.

It will be seen also that if the motor fails to start on the closure of the main switch 65 the 3 first time delay device D will close after a time interval and short circuit the resistor section Rl,thereby increasing the current to the motor.

If this fails to start the motor the second time delay device DI will close after a time interval 35 after the closure of the first time delay device and will short circuit the second resistor section R3 further increasing the current to the motor. The third time delay device will similarly close after a certain time interval to further increase the current to the motor if the motor has not already been taken'ofi the line by an overload relay, circuit breaker or other safety device (not shown).

Referring to Fig. 6, which illustrates another'g embodiment of the motor control system provided by my invention, wherein I employ a plurality of the time delay devices shown in Figures 1 and 2, herein identified by the reference characters CI and C2, the source of current is indicated at 50 and 9| and it will be seen that when the switch 92 is closed a circuit is established through the winding 93 of the contactor 94, causing this contactor to close and moving the contacts 95 and 96 into engagement with the contacts 91 and 55 98, the contactor 94 being held closed through its own control circuit contacts 99 and I110. On closure of the contactor 94 current flows from the line 90 through the contacts 91 and 95, thence through the winding I9 of the first time delay device CI, thence through the resistor R to the armature A and the series field winding II and thence back to the supply line 9|. Current also flows from the contactor 94 through the shunt ,field I02 and thence back to the supply line 9|. 65

I03 of the contactor I04 and moves the contacts I05 and I06 into engagement with the contacts I01 and I08, thereby completing the circuit through the contactor I04, the contacts I05--I0I, 5 and through the winding IQ of the second time delay device C2, and .thence through the left hand portion only of the resistor R, the right hand portion of the resistor being thereby short circuited. The time delay device C2 operates in 10 the same manner as the time delay device CI and when the member 20 engages the contacts 2 I--2I the circuit is completed through the winding I09 of the contactor IIO, causing the contacts lII-I I2 to be brought into engagement so that a circuit is established from the contactor II 0 through the motor, thereby completely short circuiting the resistor R, and the windings of the relays CI and C2.

In the system shown in Fig. 6 the operating winding I03 on the contactor I04 is shown to be initially energized at the same time the winding I9 of the time delay device Cl is energized.

However, the operation of the time delay device CI is much more rapid than that of the magnetically operated contactor 14 so that the movable member of the time delay device will move upwardly and open the circuit between the contacts 2I and through the winding I03 before the contactor I04 has had time to close. The contactor I04 therefore will not operate until the circuit through the contacts controlled by the time delay device CI is completed.

While the systems shown in Figs. 4 and 6 have been illustrated and described as employing the type of time delay device shown in Figs.

1 and 2, in which the contacts are normally closed, it should be understood, that the form of time delay device shown in Fig. 3 in which the contacts are normally open may be employed if desired. Similarly, while the system shown in Fig. 5 has been illustrated and described as employing the type of time delay device shown in Fig. 3, in which the contacts are normally open,

the type. of time device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in which the contacts are normally closed, may be employed if desired.

While certain features of construction of the time delay devices and of the circuit connections which I may employ in the system provided by my invention have been described and illustrated in detail, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the details, but that numerous changes. and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a system for controlling an electric work circuit, current controlling means in said work circuit, shunting means for shunting said current controllingmeans, contacts for controlling said shunting means, and means responsive to a rise in current in said work circuit for quickly moving said contacts from a normal position, said means being operative for retarding movement of said contacts to a position making efiective said shunting means with respect to said current controlling means whereby a time delay is effected, and being responsive at all times to any substantially continuous current in said work .70 circuit for retardation thereby to render said retardation and resultant time delay dependent at each instant of retarded movement upon the amount of current flowing in said work circuit during the particular instant.

75 2. In a'system'ior controlling an electric work" circuit, current controlling means in said work circuit, a circuit for shunting said current controlling means, contacts for controlling said shunt circuit, and means responsive to an increase in current in said work circuit for quickly moving said contacts to an open position, said means being responsive to any magnitude of substantially continuous current in said work circuit for causing retardedmovement of said contacts from said open position to a closed position to thereby effect closure of said shunt circuit, said means including a winding energized in response to the current in said work circuit, and a movable member retarded in movement by said winding and operatively related to said contacts and urging the contacts toward said closed position, the urging force of said movable member eventually fully overcoming said retarding influence exerted on said movable member by said winding after a period of time delay resulting from said retarding influence, said retarding influence of said winding being dependent upon the value of current flowing in said work circuit throughout said time delay period.

3. In a system for controlling an electric work circuit, current controlling means in said work circuit, shunting means for shunting said current controlling means, relatively movable contacts subjected to a restraining force for controlling said shunting means, and means responsive to a rise in current in said work circuit for quickly moving said contacts to an open position, said means being responsive to any magnitude of substantially continuous current in said work circuit for causing retarded movement of said contacts from said open position to a closed position, the retarding force being at all times less than the restraining force, said retarded movement efiecting a time delay dependent upon the magnitude of current flowing in said work circuit during said retarded movement.

4. In a system for controlling an electric motor circuit, current controlling means in said circuit, shunting means for shunting said current controlling means, contacts for controlling said shunting means, and means responsive to" a rise incurrent in said circuit for quickly moving said contacts from a normal position, said means being operative for controlling movement of said contacts to a position making eifective said shunting means with respect to said current controlling means and being responsive to substantially continuous currents in said circuit during rotation and non rotation of the motor, respectively, for controlling said last movement to efiect a time delay dependent upon the value of the current flowing in said circuit during said time delay regardless of rotation or non-rotation of the motor.

5. A system for controlling the acceleration'of an electric motor, comprising a. supply circuit, starting resistance means in said circuit, shunting means for shunting at least a portion of said starting resistance means, relatively movable contacts subjected to a restraining. force for controlling said shunting means, and means responsive to a rise in current in said supply circuit for quickly moving said contacts against the restraining force to an open position and responsive to any magnitude of substantially continuous current in said supply circuit to effect retarded movement of said contacts from said open position to a closed position during a period of time dependent upon the value of current flowing in said supply circuit throughout said period of time, the retarding force at all times being less than the restraining force, and closure of said contacts rendering effective said shunting means with I respect to said starting resistance.

resistance, and thereafter to shunt successively and cumulatively'additional portions of the accelerating resistance, means operatively associated with said shunting means for causing said shunting operations to take place after time de- 5 lay intervals respectively, each of which intervals is dependent in extent upon the value of the circuit current flowing throughout its own duration.

LEV A. TROFIMOV. 

